--- title: "The Fall: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Fall (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 9 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics take to The Fall, and the praise gathers around two things: the decision to give the killer as much screen time as the detective, and the two leads who carry it. Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan are named in nearly every review, usually for how much they manage to say while doing almost nothing. The Guardian rates it among the strongest BBC dramas in years for its interest in the ordinariness of murder, and The Independent is gripped by the way the series mirrors cop and killer until the kinship becomes uncomfortable. The reservations are about pace and padding. The AV Club finds it slow and weighed down by secondary plots it does not need, and The Telegraph thinks the killer is too styled, more poster than person. Otherwise the spread is narrow, with one dissent: Den of Geek argues the series adds nothing to the serial-killer genre and that Anderson is the only thing holding up thin writing. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 May 2013. The critic praises the series as one of the best BBC dramas in years for its original approach of devoting equal time to the hunter and the hunted in a psychological thriller. They single out the gripping exploration of the banality of evil and everyday murder details as particularly brilliant. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/may/11/the-fall-gillian-anderson) ## The Times — Alex Hardy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2013. The critic calls the finale brave, different and often delicate, commending the whole-life approach to the effects of killing and the strong performances. They single out the scorching visuals, metallic soundtrack and the leads' ability to communicate in stillness as praiseworthy. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/last-nights-tv-the-fall-3bpwjd9w7mz) ## IndieWire — Matt Brennan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2015. The critic finds the series stronger and darker upon its Netflix return with season two. They highlight its compelling character work and tension as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/review-bbc-crime-drama-the-fall-returns-to-netflix-better-and-darker-than-ever-189276/) ## The AV Club — Ryan McGee Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2013. The critic finds the series a slow-paced but rewarding psychological study of duality and violence against women, excelling in exploring characters' inner fears but faltering with unnecessary secondary plots. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-fall-1798176937) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2013. The critic praises this classy Belfast-set BBC thriller for squeezing stylish nastiness and smart character work reminiscent of The Killing and Borgen into five taut episodes. The terrific performances by Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson as killer and cop largely succeed while leaving threads for a second season. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/fall-review-2/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2013. The critic highlights how the series paints an alarmingly intimate portrait of the killer, noting the kinship between detective and murderer and the unsettling ambivalence in his character. They single out scenes of mirroring between the two leads and the fresh insights into control and abuse as gripping elements. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/tv-review-the-fall-bbc2-paints-an-alarmingly-intimate-portrait-of-a-killer-8642852.html) ## The Telegraph — Chris Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2013. The series is slick and knowing with strong performances from Anderson and Dornan, though the serial killer feels like an overly stylized 'Athena' version. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10054936/The-Fall-BBC-Two-review.html) ## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2013. The critic praises the series as a chilling, unflinching jet-black drama that delivers disturbing and hard-to-watch television. They single out the strong lead performances of Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan as elevating it beyond shock value. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a483068/the-fall-review-are-you-watching-gillian-andersons-dark-drama/) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2013. The critic argues the series fails to reinvigorate the serial killer genre and finds its central villain uninteresting despite the early reveal. They single out Gillian Anderson’s performance as the strongest element amid otherwise shallow writing and direction. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-fall-episode-1-review-dark-descent/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013.md